With Signing Day Looming, OSU Makes Last-Ditch Effort for JUCO Pass Rusher

Signing day is just weeks away, and if there is one position we know OSU is looking to fill it’s defensive tackle.

After in-state prospect Israel Antwine stunningly flipped his pledge from OSU to Colorado before December’s early signing period, it left the staff scrambling. But in a somewhat surprising move this week, OSU has put out an offer to a junior college defensive end, Amadou Fofana.

Fofana’s currently at Highland Community College in Kansas and a 2018 prospect. And right now, OSU’s competition is … not stiff. His only others offers right now are from Buffalo, Louisiana-Lafayette, and New Mexico.

Fofana earned NJCAA All-America honors and was named First Team All-Conference, but still, with Tyler Lacy, Michael Scott and Braden Cassity incoming at DE for 2018, what gives?

My suspicion is that, while Fofana is a natural DE, OSU is offering with the hopes of converting him inside. Almost no one OSU puts out at DE is 270 pounds (Trey Carter being the exception, but even he was moved inside to DT this season). So don’t be surprised to see him give consideration to OSU’s last minute offer, especially given the dire situation for OSU inside that could pave the way for early PT for an under-the-radar talent from Memphis.

Otito Ogbonnia and Samuela Tuihalamaka are also two OSU targets to know among 2018 DT prospects as signing day nears. Tuihalamaka is making an official visit to Stillwater this weekend.